OUR FIRST THANKSGIVING

...give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1Thessalonians 5:18b (NIV)

Most families celebrate Thanksgiving, passing the tradition to their children. Not so with my family. My mother never cooked a turkey.

My stepfather's employer gave everyone at work a turkey for Thanksgiving. We were thankful when he brought one home, but my mother did not know how to cook it.

Mother looked at that bird like it was an alien. She washed it, and gave thanks to God for abundant food. While staring at the bird, Mom decided boiling would make it tender. She filled her biggest pot with water and boiled the bird for two hours. Whew! It stunk up the house. "Is the turkey supposed to smell that way?" she asked my stepfather. He shrugged and walked away.

Mom was upset. Well, she mumbled, maybe it needs to be fried. Cutting the wings, legs and thighs off, she dusted them in flour and fried the pieces in three large skillets. The odor was nauseating. She mumbled, it must have to bake. She placed all the pieces in her largest baking pan and shoved it into the oven.

The air was thick with a heavy rotten odor. Mom opened the windows and doors to air out the house. To test if the bird was fit for human consumption, Mom offered a drumstick to our dog. He sniffed it and retreated to the pantry. The only thing that turkey was good for was the garbage can!

Even though our Thanksgiving dinner was bologna and cheese sandwiches and a purchased pumpkin pie, we offered our thanks to God.

Dear Lord, thank You for the mistakes we make that teach us to correct our ways. Amen

© 2018  Evelyn B. Ryan